[USAFwife]

First of all, let me dispel a seemingly wide spread myth; I AM NOT A GOOD DANCER!!!!, ok now that is off my chest. Shar awoke this morning with a soft purple spot at the top of her scar that is reminiscent of her first fistula rupture out of the abdomen, so this immediately set the stage for a very difficult day. She faced her CT with all the courage she could muster and came of the CT scan trembling and in tears. They found a large pocket of fluid in her abdomen, arguing with the air that remains in the abdomen as to who actually gets to ruin her day this time. Her only words were " 18 inch needle", "Fluid", "drains" and TAKE ME HOME!" . I took her to her Dr's office and used my enduring qualities to ensure that we met with the DR ASAP, not in a few hours and came up with a game plan. He agrees with my modest and humble opinion that it is time to cease with the passive approach and get AGGRESSIVE. He has agreed to attempt a revision, but needs some time to mediate the current argument being held in her abdomen. So tomorrow he will take her into the OR and install some drains and a feeding tube. His plan is to use her Hicman for pain and the feeding tube for nutrition. He wants to give her body one week to heal and boost her strength, so that either next thursday or friday he will be able to attempt the revision with some level of confidence for success. He understands that Shar is emotionally fragile right now and the importance of not being in the hospital this friday; MarieAnne's 2nd "Angel Day". He has conveyed that he will do everything in his power to ensure that she can go home safely with in home care's support to get her through the weekend. If she is able to go home tomorrow, she will likely be re-admitted early next week to prepare her for the revision.
Let me clarify, the "revision" is not a reversal. He will make another abdomenal incision and basically remove all the trouble and create new unions with a reformed pouch. He is basically just re-doing the RN-Y, eliminating the diverticuli and any unhealthy scar tissue. He said that there is a reasonable expectation that she should heal in the same manner that was expected with the original procedure. The abdomenal scar will be a difffering factor, but shouldn't disrupt the healing of ther pouch. HOWEVER, as reasonable as it may sound, the past four months have shown that Shar tends to defy the reasonable odds. So I'll just keep dancing beside her and eventually we will win the damn trophy or drop from exhaustion. EIther way I'm eatin my wheaties so I should be good for a few more rounds.

Love ya!

Chickadee , Hubs, Jiffypop, Leenie, and the rest of you are the B.O.M.B. ... sorry I'm a weapons troop, lets just say your all pretty "spiffy" in my book.

[jiffypop]

dear God in heaven - thank you for the warning! i'm stunned. shocked. and soooooooooooooooo grateful you're with her and advocating for her - and getting in people's faces. don't you DARE go off on some assignment!!!!

shar - oh honey. i wish i could take some of this pain away. but let's keep hope alive here. and you'll make it. honest!

an aggressive plan. and make sure they do a type and cross match, and see if you or other family members can try to pre-donate blood. just a precaution.

[hubs]

Ok. As horrendous as this has all been I can say with confidence that the drain will be a great relief and trust me Shar... its ultimately MUCH more comfortable than the needle. Should have been done today without pissing around with that f****** needle to begin with, but water under the bridge. The drain is a good thing.

Now, nutrition. POUR that stuff into you Shar. Get as much in there as you possible can. I don't know how much you can exercise control over what you supplement with but over and above the ensure or whatever, try to get a good quality Liquid Multi Vitamin and Mineral - and I know for a fact the NOW brand is the best option here - into you on top of what you're taking and I would also suggest checking out a Liquid Magnesium Citrate which will fortify your cardiovascular strength and keep your ticker pumping strong. All I can tell you is its what I would do.

At this point, I think unless you're REALLY convinced a total reversal is the best thing for you, the plan of revision makes sense and I agree there is no reason to anticipate you will heal in anything other than a conventional way. As for a midline incision, well... you'll hurt sweetie, but it doesn't last forever. The damaged tissue will be gone. You'll be back to square one but at this point you're in a deficit position so square one is a big move forward at this point.

Shar's husband! What can we call you other than USAwife's husband? How bout Danceman? You're a gem. Her shining star. Keep strong and stay in their faces. And just so you know, other than in the OR, there is NO place they can keep you out of for the most part and even in xray they can shield you. I know she's a grown woman but in this fragile and exhausted state you have the right to assert yourself as her caregiver in the same way a parent would be protective with a child. Of course she's NOT a child, but don't let anyone chase you out of any room either of you feel you should be in with her.

Ok. This is good because its well considered, and decisive and can bring much resolution.

Please, keep the updates coming whenever you can.

[Leenie]

Omg, poor Shar and poor you

My Gosh, this is sickening and the only thing that comes to my mind right now is 4 letter words (I'm from Jersey so you can imagine lol). I don't even know what to say, I feel so frustrated for the both of you and I cant even begin to imagine how you are feeling.

I am so glad that they are going to fix this mess that they created and I'm darn glad that you went in and demanded that they do so. Good for you !!!!

I can't wait to hear when the both of you are dancing circles around that hospital and the doctors

Luv yah !!!!

[kfs151]

Ugh - what an ordeal. I'm glad you've been able to advocate for Shar and that you are hopefully getting a resolution and relief with the revision. My thoughts are with you and Shar.